That is not unreasonable at all. Our first cabinet fiasco (we lost the deposit... are still trying to get it back) would have been a 10 week lead time.

Crown Point was about 7 weeks, but they are slow right now. I think it is a good sign that your guy has other work-- we lost our original deposit (about the same as yours) after our sample door came in looking really terrible, I refused to approve it, and the guy didn't give me my deposit back (he hadn't manufactured anything).

I've been quoted 3 weeks to delivery for a 10 cabinet laundry room, 2 vanities plus two linen towers by Legacy Cabinets. No add-ons (crown, etc.) but a painted cream finish.

My cabs are lower-end (most bang I could find for my buck) and I didn't have a ton of options, so hard to compare them to a custom cab maker working as a one man shop. Just fyi.

Sandy

With custom cabinetry it isn't unusual to wait that amount of time, especially if you have a large order. When I originally chose a custom guy it was going to take about 5 months to do all of my cabinetry (I do have a lot of cabinetry). Long story, big mess, and 5k later, we decided custom wasn't going to work out and ordered the remaining cabinetry. I really wish I could have gotten my custom guy to understand what I wanted - or even read the drawings and notes correctly. (The lesson is don't ask a really good oak 3/4 overlay 'come in and do it for me' guy to do cherry 'here is exactly what I want' full overlay). When I finally odered them from a company it took about 7 weeks to get them.

It has been my experience when working with a contractor, that subs (including my cabinet-maker) have more loyaltly towards a contractor than working directly with a homeowner. My cabinet-maker initially told me it would be 6-8 weeks, but when my contractor talked to him, he got them done in 3! The cabinet-maker really has no incentive to get your job done quicker...he has more incentive to get those jobs done that will warrant him more work.

It's a "standard" time frame. What's not standard is the feeling of frustration because of the communication issue between you two. That is NOT going to get better, and if you have any other issues that are pinging at you, I'd suggest getting the deposit back and going elsewhere. If this is just an example of a old style craftsman's crochety nature and he has loads of glowing reviews, then 3 months isn't that long to wait on a stellar product--as long as you know the product will be outstanding.

Certainly appreciate your responses & words of wisdom to my obvious, impulsive vent!

live_wire_oak, intuitively, well said. Fortunately,the man was understanding with an offer to return the deposit when DH phoned him this morning to explain the time-line was not working for us. Subsequently, I phoned the "runner-up" who agreed to begin next week with a completion guarantee of 3-4 weeks. He's a member of a Mennonite community well-known for quality workmanship and outstanding work ethic.

Many thanks!

Glad you're getting your deposit back. I agree that his timeline isn't completely unreasonable but honestly, I wouldn't have given this guy a dime. Why? "he's a man who won't make a deal with a woman and wanted to meet again on March 9 with my husband present."

So does that mean that every time you want to communicate with him, you'll have to go through your husband? If there is a problem with anything, will he see you as an unreasoable female and refuse to make changes?

My kitchen remodel was my baby, and although my husband participated every step of the way when the contractors had questions, ultimately I needed to have the final say. If they (or anyone else I worked with) hadn't taken me seriously for any reason, including the fact that I'm a woman, I'd have moved on and worked with someone else.

Good luck with your cabinets and house!!

My cabinets, Amish built, were done in two weeks. I don't have a huge kitchen, but they started cutting on a Thursday and the cabinets were picked up two weeks later. My cabinets were also less expensive than Lowes.

My cabinets, flooring and appliances were all delivered within two weeks after demolish started.

Now all we have left to do is for you to pick out my countertops and sink!:)

lowspark, you hit the nail on the head! Although my husband has become the primary cook since our kids grew up & flew the nest, he totally trusts me for the design knowing I'm a "function over form" type. Every design element considered had ease and accessibility in mind considering we're approaching retirement!

It's a marketing ploy to get both husband and wife to sit down with the salesman stating the standard, boring cliche', "making sure we're all on the same page"! LOL

Someone once told me "contracts are made to be broken". Actually, I don't operate that way and am feeling slightly precocious (sp?) and maybe a little guilty. But, hey, will it matter in 6 months? Not really.

lodalady, thanks for your observations, as well. What are you considering for your countertops and sinks?

I am trying not to be insensitive but take a look at this from the custom cabinetmakers side. I am certain that every cabinetmaker has been burned by starting an order only to have it unacceptable by a homeowner upon delivery. It is really good if your partner trusts you 1000% with design decisions but the cabinetmaker has now way to verify that. I do not think it is unreasonable to want both homeowners to sign off on a design before investing hundreds of labor hours in construction.

He may very well have been a misogynist, but I would not have inferred that by his preference to require all parties to agree to a design before starting.

Other than that point his time line to completion sounded reasonable if not quick compared to other custom cabinets. I don't think it unreasonable to start a job without a deposit. You never put a completion date in contract, so without requesting one I would not expect he hit a target date. He returned all your deposit when you changed cabinetmakers.

To me this guy sounds much better than several of the scam artists other homeowners have had to deal with lately.

Forgive me if I too jumped to conclusions here, maybe I missed some information or it is possible you would have to converse with the cabinetmaker in person to understand his demeanor. If he was rude to you soley because you are female, trust me I would be first in line to put him in his place.

enginerd,

Your information processing was fair and I appreciate your comments. Fortunately, the cabinet person and I have worked together in the health care field and can dissolve the proposal in a professional manner.

Admittedly, independent sub-contracting of a house-build is not without drama. Even though, I'm hugely cognizant of that fact, there are situations. I've been totally pleased with all of our "subs"; however, they frequently send in insufficiently trained crews.

Whoa, topic change. All in all, it's a beautiful experience!

Thank you for understanding my post, I was worried I would check back and have a punch of people mad at me.

I wish you the best of luck with all of the remodeling and my heart goes out to you having to deal with everything involved.